Stocking and the art of manufacturing the same



(ModeL) B; SOHILLING'.

'STOGKING AND THE ART OF MANUFAGTURING THE SAME. No. 293.363.

Patented Feb. 12, 1884.

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EDWARD SOHILLING, or LoUIsvILLE, o'HIo.

STOCKINGAND THE ART OF MANUFACTURING THE SAME.

. SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 293,363, dated February 12, 1884.

Application filed April 7, [883. (Model.)

To all whom it ay concern:

Be it known that I, EDWARD SOHILLING, a citizen of the United States, residingat Louisville, in the county of Stark and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Stockings and the Art of Manufactun ing the Same, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention consists in a stocking of a novel character, the purpose being to provide one which in the leg portion shall be much warmer and more durable than those heretofore used, and which shall at the same time not have the foot part enlarged, the invention also consisting in a novel method of manufacturing an article' of this character.

Figure 1 is a vertical section of a stocking embodying my improvements. Fig. 2 is a side view of the same. Fig. '8 is a partial sectional view of a slightly-modified form, it showing also a portion of a shoe in section.

In the drawings, A represents the inside layer or tube of the fabric, and this is the one which, according to the process that I. prefer, is initially niade-that is to say, I have found that the simplest and cheapest method is to commence by starting the stitches at a, from the line of which initial stitches the inside portion, A, is knitted upward toward the top B of the leg portion. The tubular fabric is continued withoutstopping until another part, 0,

'is produced; and when this latter has been knitted to a length equal to that from a to 'B, the part A is drawn inside of this part 0. Then the stitches c at the end of the tubular part 0 are so arranged relatively to the stitches a that the two ends of the tubular part can be joined together smoothly. This joining by my improved method can be effected without removing the stitches c from the needles or from the machine, and as a result the process of knitting can be carried on continuously that is to say, the two end series of stitches are joined and the foot part D is afterward made at one continuous operation. This method of joining the two sets of stitches at a and 0 will be readily understood by those acquainted with the art of knitting, it being necessary to mere- 1y take up again the initial stitches c and replace them upon the hooks or needles by which the knitting is effected, the stitches a still re maining on the same hooks or needles.

By examining the drawings, it will be seen that the doubled fabric does not extend over the foot portion, the foot being left of single ply. Above the shoe there is provided a warm strong fabric, which in these respects is much superior to those heretofore made, and at the same time there is no crowding or enlarging at the foot portion, for the shoe itself provides for the foot the protection which, at the upper part of the stocking, is provided by the second ply or tube of the fabric. shoe is to be allowed for, or for other reasons,

WVhen a high to as low a point as is shown in Figs. 1 and 2; but may be stopped at a higher point, as shown in Fig. 3.

Vhen the stocking is made in the manner described, the exterior of it will be perfectly smooth in appearance, the line of junction of the two parts of the tubular portion being entirely concealed. It will be seen that after that portion of the fabric first knit has been turned inside of the other part of the leg there is formed a double-ply tubular fabric, which is open at both ends, though integral throughout both parts. The lower open end is adapted to communicate with the interior of the foot portion of the stocking, and the upper open end allows the inserting of the foot, and has the inner thickness made integral with the outer by a continuous series of stitches.

' I am aware of the fact that mittens have been heretofore made by first knitting one complete hand portion, then knitting another separate hand portion, then inserting one of these into the other, then uniting the twotogether at or near the base of the thumb, and then knitting a Wrist, and I do not claim either articles of this sort or this method of producing such articles,- but the stocking which I have devised differs both in its structure and its capabilities from articles of the character above indicated and heretofore known. at the end opposite to that having the single ply, the fabric is made of two thicknesses, made integrally,

use for which I intend it, much better than if the two parts were formed separately at this point. Again, that portion of the article which In my case,

and it is therefore adapted to the IOO is single ply is the one which is closed at the end, and it is therefore specially adapted for use beneath a shoe, as it does not enlarge that part of the-stock ng or make it bulkyor uncomfortable, whereas in the mittens above alluded to the part closed at the end is not the single ply, but double. By knitting the whole stocking with one continuous thread, smoother surfaces, both inside and out, can be providedthan if two or three fabrics were formed and joined together.

WVhat I claim is h 1. The herein-described stocking, it having a double-ply continuous fabric for the leg above the foot portion or shoe portion, and a singleply tubular knit fabric for the foot portion, adapted to be inserted into a shoe without increase of pressure therein or an unusual e11- largement of the foot portion of the fabric, the whole being knitted with stitches running in a continuous series, substantially as set forth.

2-. The herein-described stocking, it being made of, a single-ply tubular knit fabric for the foot portion or shoe portion, and of a fabrio which is double plyaround theleg above the foot portion or. shoe portion, said double-ply leg portion being open at both ends, the lower end communicating with the foot portion, and the upper open end having the inner thickness made integrally with the outer by a continuous series of stitches, substantially as set forth. r

3. The herein-described method of manufacturing a stocking, it consisting in knitting a tubular fabric with both ends open, then turning-one part thereof inside of the other to form a double-ply fabric around the leg, joining the two ends of the tubular part together, and continuing the stitches of that thickness of the leg which was last knit and forming the foot, all with one continuous knitting operation.

4. The hereiudescribed method of manufacturing a stocking, it consisting in knitting a tubular fabric with both ends open, then turning one part thereof inside the other to form a double-ply fabric around the leg, then replacing a series of stitches or loops of one of the thicknesses upon the needles while a series of stitches or loops of the other thickness are still upon the needles, then by aknitting operation joining the two said series of stitches or loops together and knitting the foot portion, all with one continuousoperation, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

EDWARD SOHILLING,

Witnesses:

HENRY FISHER, JACOB P. Fiiwcnrr. 

